Hat-box.



Patented July 8, I902. J. M. BIRD.

HAT BOX.

Application filed Feb. 7, 1902.)

2. Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modai.)

No. 704,43l. Patented July 8, I902 J. M. BIRD.

HAT BOX.

(Application fild Feb. 7. 1902.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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ASHINGTOWU c.

UNi'rnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MAURICE BIRD, OF WVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

HAT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 704,431, dated July 8, 1902. Application filed February '7, 1902. $e1iaI1T 92,949. (No modeld To all whom, it mug concern.-

Beit known that I, JOSEPH MAURICE BIRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Boxes, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates what-boxes, particularly of the type designed for holding silk or other stiff hats, such as usually worn by men,and has special reference to an improved box of this character possessing special utility for traveling purposes and providing positive and reliable mean for supporting the headwear in such a manner as to prevent injury thereto from rough usage or handling. To this end the invention contemplates a hatbox, preferably of the traveling type, embodying interior supporting or holding means for the hat, said supporting orholdingmeans being of a cushion or yielding character, so as to act as a cushion-buifer to strain imposed upon the headwear in any direction.

A further object in this connection is to provide interior holding or supporting means which insures carrying the hat in a rigid position without any strain on the brim thereof, thus obviating the objections to ordinary forms of traveling boxes or cases wherein the brim of a stiff hat very frequently becomes crushed or broken in traveling.

Another object of the invention is to associate with interior yielding supporting or holding means for the hat an improved form' of fastener or fastening-stay also contributing to the proper positioning of the hat, as well as preferably assisting in the yielding, bracing, or support thereof.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in the yielding supporting or holding means within the box are necessarily susceptible to a wide range of modification without departing from the spirit or scope thereof; but certain preferred embodiments ofthe invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top plan View of a hat-box with the cover removed and showing equipped with yielding supporting and holding means constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the, construction shown in Fig. l, illustratingthe interior supporting and holding means as including not onlya yielding brimrest, but also a yielding crown-receiver. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing a form of the invention in which the interior yieldable crownreceiver may be dispensed with. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 2, illustrating more clearly the manner of supporting the brimrest and also the interior crown receiver when the two are associated together. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 3, illustrating more plainly the mounting of the yieldable brim-rest when employed alone. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a hat held in position within the box. Fig. 7is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, showing more plainly the construction of one of the members of the fastening-stay.

Like reference-numerals designate correspon ding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention it is obvious that any shape or form of box, whetherof the traveling type or such as designed for store use, may be equipped with the yielding sup porting and holding means contemplated by the present invention. It is likewise obvious that. the supporting and holding means for the hat may be associated and mounted within the box in any suitable or approved manner without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; but for illustrative purposes certain preferred embodiments of the interior supporting and holding means for a hatare shown in the drawings as associated with the form of hat-box such as usually employed as a traveling box or case for the well-known silk or beaver hat. The invention will therefore be explained in connection with this illustration, and referring particularly to the drawin gs the numeral 1 designates the box proper,

, vertical direction with reference to the upright position of the box and is usually constructed in an elliptical or approximately elliptical ring form to conform to the crosssectional shape of the case 1. The said brimrest is also somewhat smaller in diameter than the cross-sectional area of the portion of the box or case within which it is arranged in order that it may freely yield when any strain is imposed thereon, and thus cushion the brim of the hat, which fits over and is supported on the said rest. The latter maybe formed of any suitable material. Ordinarily it is preferably of an upwardly-flaring form and may consist of a convexed cushion-body at, suitably fitted on a base ring or plate 5, and it is also preferable in the construction of the brim-rest to provide the same at what might properly be termed the end portions thereof with the upstanding swelled retainingbosses 6, which are designed for engagement particularly with the inclined flat vizor portions at the front and rear ends of the hatbrim in order to prevent displacement of the brim from its rest in alongitudinal direction. Of course the said portions of the brim are in rolled or curled form usually and fit over opposite side portions of the brim-rest, and thus prevent displacement in a transverse direction.

The yieldable brim-rest 3 has associated therewith cushion-supports 7. These cushion-supports maybe of any character that will provide for yieldingly supporting the brimrest, so that it will freely yield to strain imposed thereon,and after removal of strain will resume a normal position for naturally holding the brim of the hat. This action of the brim-rest entirely relieves the brim of the hat from a crushing or breaking strain. The said cushion-supports 7 for the brim-rest may be in the form of coiled supporting-springs arranged on guiding-stems 8,workingthrough guide openings 9, formed in the horizontal portions 10 of holding-brackets 11, arranged within the interior of the outer case 1 of the hat-box. The holding-brackets 11 may be individual brackets for eachguiding-stem 8 or may be in the form of a continuous ring or band, such as suggested in certain figures of the drawings. In a simple form of the invention,wherein the yieldable brim-rest 3 constitutes the sole supporting means for the hat, the holding-bracket 11 is preferably fitted fast to the inner wall of the outer case 1 of the box with the flange or member 10 projected inwardly to provide for receiving and sustaining the guiding-stems 8 of the brimrest. It is obvious in this construction that the holding-bracket 11 may be fitted to the case of the box in any suitable or approved manner and held in a perfectly stationary position by any means without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment of the invention is plainly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, and it may be found desirable under some conditions to associate with the brim-rest a crown-receiver 12, such as suggested in Fig. 2 of the draw ings. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, where a crown-receiver is employed, the holding-bracket 11 for the yieldable brim-rest 3 may be fitted directly to the upper edge portion of the receiver 12; but in such an arrangement the same independent yielding or cushion support is provided for the brim-rest. In the construction herein described-namely, that shown in Fig. 2-the crown-receiver is in the form of an inner box or well to receive therein the crown portion of the hat, and thus constitute additional holding means other than the brimerest. The said crown-receiver is yieldable in all directions to accommodate itself to any strain imposed thereon. It is not only supported but braced through the medium of cushions. A supporting-cushion 13 is interposed between the bottom of the receiver 12 and the bottom of the box-case 1, and a plurality of bracingcushions let are arranged about the receiver 12 and interposed between the wall thereof and the inner wall of the said case 1. It will thus be seen that the receiver 12 will readily yield in any and all directions, so as to entirely relieve the stiff crown of the hat from such strain as might be imposed thereon independent of the brim. The said cushions 13 and 14 are preferably in the form of spiral springs, as shown in the drawings, and may obviously be any equivalent cushion device.

In connection with the devices described there is also preferably utilized a fasteningstay, (designated in its entirety by the reference-number15.) This fastening-stayisdesigned to take the place of the ordinary fastening or holding strap usually buckled over the hat within the box, but in the present invention is designed to act in an auxiliary capacity to the yielding supporting means already described. The said stay consists of the opposite spring-sections, which are intended to provide a yielding fastening for the hat and at the same time overcome the objections to the ordinary elastic straps usually employed for that purpose. Each of the yielding members 16 of the stay is provided with an inelastic attaching-section 17, securely fastened to one side of the box-case 1 and bent to curve over the convex body portion 4 of the brim-rest, and at the end portion opposite the section 17 each yielding member 16 is also provided with a spring-section 18, having one or a plurality of springs and carrying the catch element 19 for detachable engagement with the complemental catch element carried by the springsection of the ICC IIO

and preferably slidably mounted in the guideother yielding member 16. These interlocking catch elements 19 may be the ordinary hook-and-eye or any of the forms of catches employed in strap-fastenings of the character described. Intel-posed between this spring 18 and inelastic section 17 each of the yielding members 16 of the stay 15 carries a supplemental holding device 20, essentially consisting of a support 21 and the hat-engaging member 22. This hat-engaging member is preferably in the form of a pin designed to extend inside of the hat at the edge thereof slot 23, formed in the support 21 and pro- Vided with a laterally-offset guiding-stem 24,

working through an opening in a portion of the support 21 and receiving thereon a cushion spring 25, which yieldingly holds the member or pin in engagement with the edge portion of the hat-body. Of course the hat-engaging member or pin 22 may be held fixed in relation to the support 21, carrying the same, inasmuch as the spring-sections 18 of the separate members 16 provide for a spring or yielding action.

It will be obvious from the construction described that the hat-box equipped with the means contemplated is necessarily of a selfsizing character, as it readily conforms itself to different sizes and shapes of hats, while at the same time cushioning a jar imposed upon the hat in any direction.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, use, and many advantages of the herein-described hat supporting and holding means for a hat-box will be readily understood by those familiar with the art without further description, and it will also be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hat-box, a movable support for the brim of the hat, and a cushion-rest for the said support located beneath the same.

2. In a hat-box, a vertically-movable brimrest consisting of a frame having a cushionbody, and a cushion-support for the said rest located beneath the same.

3. The combination with a hat-box, ofa stay comprising elastic and inelastic sections and secured to the box so as to bear on the hat to hold it in the box.

4:- A hat-box having an interior yieldinglysupported brim-rest, and a separate elastic fastening-stay having supplemental yielding holding means.

5. In a hat-box, the combination with the supporting means for the hat, of a supplemental holder for the hat comprising holding means engaging the brim portion.

6. In a hat-box, the combination with the supporting means for the hat, of a supplemental holder for the hat carried by the casing and comprising holding means engaging the brim portion.

7. In a hat-box, the outer case, a Vertical yieldable brim-rest arranged Within the case and cushion-supports for the said rest located beneath the same.

8. In a hat-box, the outer case, an interior brim-rest yieldably supported within the case, and guiding means for the brim-rest located beneath the same.

9. In a hat-box, the outer case, and a yieldable continuous brim rest provided with swelled retaining-bosses for engagement with the vizor portions of the hat-brim.

10. In a hat-box, the outer case, an interior yieldable brim-rest, a plurality of cushion supports for the rest, and guiding means for the rest.

11. In a hat-box, the outer case, an interior holding-bracket, a yieldable brim-rest having a plurality of guiding-stems loosely engaging the bracket, and spring-cushions interposed between the bracket and the end side of the said brim-rest.

12. In a hat-box, the combination with the outer case, of a yieldable brim-rest, and a yieldable crown-receiver arranged within the case, said brim-rest and said crown-receiver having an operative connection.

13. In a hat-box, the outer case, a vertical yieldable brim-rest having cushion-supports, and a crown-receiver cushioned to yield in any direction.

14. In a hat-box, the outer case, a crownreceiver arranged within the case and having a cushion-support at the bottom, cushionbraces interposed between the sides of the re-.

oeiver and the sides of the case, and a vertical yieldable brim-rest yieldingly supported upon the crown-receiver.

15. In a hat-box, the combination with the interior supporting means for the hat, of a fasteningstay consisting of separate yielding members detachably connected and each pro- Vided with a supplemental holder for the hat.

16. In a hat-box, the combination with the interior supporting means for the hat, of a fasteningstay consisting of separate yielding members detachably connected and each provided with a yielding supplemental holder for the hat.

17. In a hat-box, the combination with the supporting means for the hat, of afasteningstay consisting of separate yielding members detachably connected and each comprising a spring-section, an inelastic section and a holdin g device, said holding device being provided with an independently-yielding hat-en gaging pin or member adapted to extend within and engage each portion of the hat-body.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

JOSEPH MAURICE BIRD.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. OoornR, D. P. WoLHAUrtrEn. 

